Pharmaceutical partner CatSci looks to build on its strategic growth plans following the appointments of two significant industry figures to its senior leadership team. The Cardiff-based firm has appointed Dr Claire Madden-Smith and Andy Jones as board advisors in the hope of shaping its trajectory growth.
Dr Madden-Smith brings over 20 years of experience within the contract sector with previous roles including senior vice president of Juniper Pharma Services where she led the the growth of its contract development and manufacturing offering. She is a non-executive director and strategic consultant to contract service organisations and private equity investors.
Mr Jones has over 30 years' experience in chemistry, manufacturing and controls development and pharma manufacturing services. He has held many senior leadership positions in AstraZeneca, including head of manufacturing, science and technology, and vice president for pharmaceutical innovation. He recently concluded his role as industrial strategy challenge director at Innovate UK.
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Dr Madden-Smith said: “I am thrilled to be joining CatSci as a board advisor, especially at such an exciting stage in their journey. I hope to bring my knowledge and experience of both the pharmaceutical industry and business evolution to aid CatSci on their mission to break down the silos in drug development to accelerate the delivery of life-changing medicines to patients in need. I am positive that we can continue the incredible growth path they have already embarked on in order to offer more and better to their customers all over the world.”
Mr Jones said: “It is great to be joining as a Board Advisor for CatSci as they continue to grow and evolve, constantly enhancing their capabilities to address the critical demands of the global pharmaceutical world. I am looking forward to utilising my experience in the CMC landscape, from large pharma companies to smaller innovative biotechs, and providing CatSci with invaluable insight to support their ambitious growth mission. Along with CatSci, I am passionate about the creation of new medicines to help patients in need, and I am excited by this partnership as together we can offer customers more and better to meet their dynamic portfolio needs.”
Dr Simon Tyler, CatSci’s chief commercial officer, says: “It’s an absolute privilege to add Claire and Andy to the CatSci team in newly created Board Advisory roles. Bringing their substantial life sciences industry expertise, spanning drug (substance and product) development and manufacturing, and their experience across large pharma, emerging biopharma, external innovation, and government strategy, both Andy and Claire will be instrumental in shaping the growth trajectory of CatSci. I have no doubt that their contribution to the Board will be profound, and they will be integral in driving CatSci to become a more valuable partner for our customers and therefore better able to deliver on our singular purpose of getting new medicines into the hands of patients in need.”
Earlier this year, CatSci secured investment from European growth buyout investor Keensight Capital whose expertise in technology and healthcare will help the firm continue to accelerate growth and expansion of its workforce, laboratories, equipment and offerings. The company would not disclose the value of the deal.
The funding follows a £4.5m investment CatSci received in March to purchase new equipment and extend its 13,000 sq ft laboratories and a £3m investment in 2021.
Formed in December 2010 from a spin-out of AstraZeneca’s Catalyst Screening Facility, CatSci is operated by current co-owners Dr. Ross Burn, chief executive officer and chief operating officer, Dr. Simon Tyler.
The firm develops economically and environmentally sustainable drug manufacturing processes that enable its global pharmaceutical customers to create affordable small molecule therapeutics to address critical public health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, cancer, and mental health.
The company, which has six operational laboratories, employs almost 100 staff and achieved a turnover of more than £5.8m last year. It has a 30-40% per annum historic growth trajectory.
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